Ever wonder why food packaging is so critical to the quality of the food we eat?

The ability to get food through the food supply chain to consumers with a high level of quality is no small task.  Research says that on average our food travels about 1,500 miles before it arrives to the consumer. From producer to processor to transporter to distributor to grocer/restaurant - quality food packaging becomes crucial to protect the food, maintain its freshness and its flavor.  If the food product doesn’t arrive safely and of acceptable quality to the consumer – food manufacturers and others in the supply chain suffer.

The food manufacturing industry, with the help of the leading food packaging suppliers, work diligently to understand the changing science behind food packaging.  It is part of their business survival. Keeping the food safe inside the packaging is of great concern, and the variables in the food process, transportation and supply chain makes it challenging for manufactures to keep up.

What are some of the most important considerations in quality food packaging?

• Selecting appropriate packaging types for the food item.  There are a wide range of materials used in food packaging that have different physical and chemical properties.  Paper, fiber (cloth), Plastic (bags, pouches and lidding film), Aluminum, Glass, Ceramics and more. Recycled materials are now becoming a preference. All of these types of products in some way, shape, or form affect the final food product.
• Determining how the supplies selected for packaging interact with the ingredients for the period of time the food will be in the packaging.
• Understanding the process of storing, processing, heating, cooling, microwaving the food item to be certain the packaging meets all the necessary components of the food process.

·     The specifications for one food item may not suffice for another.   For example, you might not use the same type of packaging for a dry product, versus a product that has high fat content.

The specifications to consider for quality food packaging include:

• Information as it relates to microbiological safety
• Information to describe the “product” – standard identity
• Chemical makeup
• Physical properties

And all the specifications should be built to measure:

• The quality
• The safety
• The performance

Here are some questions you should be asking when it comes to the selecting a quality food package that will guard the safety and quality of your food items:

• What type of food is going to be packaged?
• What type of protection do you want to provide?
• Do you need to have opaque packaging or can it be clear?
• What is the design of the product?
• What is the shelf-life of the product?
• How will the product be handled?
• What is the intended distribution chain for the product?
• Consider the storage conditions and where it will be traveling
• How will the consumer use the packaging to prepare for consumption?

As mentioned, packaging has a significant effect on the product, and one format does not fit all. It’s important to consider physical and chemical interactions of ingredients with existing packaging materials. The packaging must function as a barrier to microbiological, chemical, and physical contaminants that would degrade product quality and safety.

A packaging validation and verification process is key to a comprehensive food safety program and will validate the quality of the package and the food.

Analysis of the following physical items of the packaging are normally measured:

• Seal
• Moisture barrier
• Vapor barrier
• Light protection
• Chemical protection

Microbiological items that are typically measured include:

• Cleanliness of packaging (sometimes it can cause molds in products like yogurts)
• Post production contamination
• Storage conditions for packaging
• Air and airflow
• Safety and quality of the packaging materials used

Food packaging performance must be designed to meet all the parameters of the product itself and should be done in conjunction with development, marketing, QA, food safety, distribution and your packaging supplier to ensure the packaging is designed to meet the intended use of the product and ensure food quality and safety.

As you can see, packaging is a vital part of your food safety system.  It is challenging to continuously understand the composition of packaging and its interactions with food and the process. As food travels the long distances through the supply chain, remember quality packaging equals quality food, equals satisfied and returning consumers and good business.

Utilize your food packaging supplier, like Century Flexible Packaging, to assist with identifying the most innovative applications in quality food packaging.